Installing it may require a few extra steps if you don’t already have the correct xdg-utils package installed on your system.

I tried using the xdg-utils that Red Hat has available through the Red Hat subscription, but they are too new and for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. I’m using Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 in this case to preserve compatibility with some older software packages that we use.

Finally Google Earth installed successfully on linux and I could spin the globe and use all the features of Google Earth on a powerful Red Hat linux workstation.

You may have to try a few different xdg-utils packages to find the one that will work with your Linux operating system and version of Google Earth.

Running Google Earth from your Red Hat Linux Desktop

The Google Earth linux package installs by default in the /opt/google/earth/free directory.

[root@linuxbox free]# pwd
/opt/google/earth/free

You can navigate to the “free” directory and then click on the Google Earth icon to open the application:

Some quick notes on Google Earth controls

Besides scrolling around with the mouse, you can use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out of the globe.

You can also use keyboard controls to move around the globe.

Use the plus and minus keys (+, -) to zoom in and out.

If you hold down the shift key while scrolling, you can tilt the earth down to a ground-level view.

Pressing the “u” key on the keyboard resets your view to a top down bird’s eye view.
Pressing the “n” key resets the North orientation to North up.

A few screenshots of Google Earth running on Red Hat Linux

The extreme terrain of the Himalayas has many peaks over 6000 meters like this one as well as a few really tall peaks over 8000 meters.Google Earth has the option to show current weather conditions around the globe.

The many faces of Google Earth

Google Earth showing sun shading of the day and night sides of planet EarthGoogle MarsGoogle Mars view of Olympus Mons, the tallest peak in the Solar System.Google MoonGoogle Sky view of the Owl Nebula or M97

All of the different globes can be selected in Google Earth using the yellow icon that looks a little like the planet Saturn:

Have fun exploring the Earth and the rest of the galaxy with the many faces of Google Earth!

On Jan. 29, 2012, using the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the space agency spotted the lander from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit mission. The rover drove off after landing and explored its corner of the red planet for 6 years! The little rover is quietly resting now on the surface having done it’s duty. The Phoenix Lander was also found by NASA. Check out NASA’s site for some amazing color Mars images. (link below)

Where is the planet Mars now you ask? Look up tonight to the left and above the bright Moon and you’ll see the red planet shining a bright, ruddy red in the night sky. Mars will be getting closer to Earth these next few weeks and will be at it’s closest in early March. Be sure to check it out!

The Moon and Mars high in the sky on Google's Sky Map app in ICS--Image credit: SiliconCali.com